Coach Wallin’s latest restoration project was this 1967 red convertible Mustang. Paul Wallin will begin his eighth year as the Mackinaw City girls varsity basketball coach and 20th season with the Comets hoops program, but his job or hobby away from the gymnasium is car restoration, which he has been doing since he was 16 years old.

Paul's father, Fred, passed on the hobby of working on cars to his son early in his life. "I bought a 1957 Chevy for $50 and restored it from scratch," said Coach Wallin. "The only regret is that I sold my first car."

The next two cars were a 1955 and a 1957 Chevy and over the years the coach has restored 10 vehicles, including three for his children. Justin has a 1957 Chevy, Jordan a 1934 Chevy coupe, and Rachel a 1968 Mustang.

His latest restoration, a 1967 red convertible Mustang, wasn’t for a family member, but for a friend of his mother.

"I love to coach, but working on cars, whether it be mechanical or restoration, is my time for relaxing,” he said. “You are in control when you are working on the cars and trucks. My two favorite models are Fords and Chevrolets.”

Coach Wallin started with the junior high girls program and seven years later moved to the girls junior varsity team for five years before taking over the varsity squad. The Comets overall record is 75-75 under his campaign and the best three seasons have been 18-3, 17-6, and 14-7.

The maintenance employee for the school has his own car, a 1957 Chevy that he sometimes drives to practice and to work. The next project may be a car for his wife, Nikki.